Time Hoppers: The Silk Road

My dad has always had a thing about time.

Like, obsessed.

I don't know how it started.

But I'm sure he could tell you exactly when--

minute, hour,

day, week, month and year.

That's me. Yes, I know.

It's so weird what parents think is cute.

My family and I had time for everything.

But then one day, everything changed.

My mom's time ended, and it felt like time stopped.

My dad got really sad and started working all the time,

trying to fix things.

I'm Layla. Well, that's my name now.

It wasn't always that.

I want to keep going, to have new adventures

and to make new memories.

It's hard when my dad just wants things

to go back to how they were.

I really miss my mom.

And in a strange way, I miss my Baba, too.

- -

No, no, no!

We have to get out of here.

-Well, what's wrong? -Shh!

Just hurry.

- -

Ow, ow, ow, ow!

Remember, he is highly dangerous

but cannot be harmed.

Bring him to me. Go!

This is the guy.

Baba, please tell me what's going on.

I'm scared.

I know this is frightening, my dear Noor,

but I promise you, I will always protect you.

But why are we running away?

There are some people that are after

what Aunt Hafsah and I have discovered.

What kind of discovery?

We have discovered a tool so revolutionary,

it can change history, the present,

and the future.

But with all great inventions,

there are bad, greedy people

who want to use them to gain power.

Like what? A time machine?

When the time is right, I'll tell you everything.

I'll always protect you.

Right now, I need you to stay strong.

Just like your mom.

She was the strongest and bravest person I ever met.

You're just like her.

I trust you, Baba.

But what happens now?

We leave everything behind...

including our names.

Hello, hello, new-family-on-the-block!!

Hmm.

You're the new girl Layla right?

Dean Hafsah told us all about you!

Are you ready for school? We can board together!

Board?

You just set it down like this...hup!

And hop on!

Whoa-oa-oa!

I've got her from here, sir!

I'll see you at school.

Please try to have fun, okay?

-Let's go! -Whoa-oh!

Hmm?

Did you arrive okay? Yes. We are safe.

I saw the security footage,

and you got out just in time!

Are you sure they can't trace us here?

I'm certain. I checked for any possible connection,

and there's no way.

You need to relax.

For Layla's sake.

So, how much did you tell her?

Enough just to make her feel safe.

These people at Zoola Inc. are very dangerous,

and that makes our work even more important to finish

before it falls in the wrong hands.

Do you still think we should have the kids

-help us with our research? -Do you?

My students at Aqli Academy are problem solvers.

They will help us achieve our goals much quicker.

I trust you.

Whoo-ooh-ooh!

Abdullah!

This is Layla, our new student and my new best friend!

Sweet, so you're Khal-culator's cousin?

Do I hear my name?

Ha ha. Welcome to Vancouver, cuz!

Are you excited about classes?

We've got some of the most venerable scholars

in Vancouver here!

Hey, what's on your mind?

What if I don't fit in?

Or what if I, I dunno,

slip up and say my old name?

Eh, it's entirely possible to adapt to a new name.

I have incontrovertible evidence!

Almost all of the 16th century

kings and queens of France did it,

and their lives turned out okay.

Well, name-wise, anyway.

Whoa!

Layla! Want a tour?

Ah! That's the library.

Oh, and there's Ms. Lubna, our librarian!

Ha ha, pretty cool, huh?

Aqli's library houses more titles

than any other library in North America.

And Khal-culator's read them all.

Not all. Uh, just most.

This is where I got my black belt!

Whoa--

Hi-yah! Khalid's still green.

Let's go!

Come on, come on!

Whoa-- -Oh!

Oh, that was close! Aunt Hafsah!

Welcome home, Layla!

Oh, good, you're all here.

I have something special to show you.

The restricted lab? Really?

Uh, I'm included right? She meant me, too?

Well, come on now, hurry!

Cool!

Where are we?

-Whoa! Nice! Amazing.

Wow! -Sweet!

Perfect.

Wow.

Hmm.

Whoa!

No. Layla!

Baba!

Oh!

Okay.

Layla, Abdullah, Aysha...

This...is the Aqli Time Travel Lab.

This is what you've been working on all these years?

You can time travel?

Well, no.

Our drone cameras can, but we can't.

Today, our drone cameras.

Tomorrow, it may be us!

It's wild, wild!

Hmm.

All this technology,

yet he's only interested in his pen and paper?

You four have been specially chosen

to take our project into the next generation.

Ah, watch this.

Let us zoom in on this cam

in 825, Baghdad.

We want you to watch these cameras,

log our findings,

cross-reference with histories...

perhaps one day help us re-write history books

for Aqli's library!

So...what do you think?

Oh, Dean, we won't let you down!

Will we?

I can't wait to tell my friends!

-You can't! -Huh?

Uh, I mean, I mean, uh, ha...

sorry...I got excited.

I mean, this project is our secret.

No one else can know.

Hmm.

Whoa. What if...

Hmm.

Awesome.

Huh? Abdullah?